Is anyone else planning on buying second hand toys for their kids presents?

[SmokedMackerel]

My DC are both really into playmobil, so I have been lurking on eBay trying to find a good bargain, starting now to try and avoid Christmas rush :-) .

As far as i'm concerned, it's a great idea - get more for my money, ability to personalise the set a bit to my DC interests (planning on getting figures that look like the members of our family) won't have to fill the recycling bin with loads of packaging on Xmas day etc etc.

But most people I have told about it have been a bit negative, so I have had to go online to try and find people to share my enthusiasm.

So, who else is buying second hand stuff, and can anyone recommend other good places besides eBay to look?

[DesperatelySeekingSedatives]

I've got my 2 some books out the charity shops as part of their christmas stuff as well as ebay. Also lurking on there to get some more train track for DS's happyland set and got some Sylvanian Family stuff on my watch list to go in DD's advent calender (small things obviously). Oh and Zhu Zhu pets shit but thats mainly down to there not being much of the latter in stores these days (DD's Zhu Zhu obsession came about quite late).

Speaking of which if anyone wants to sell their Dc's unwanted Zhu Zhu stuff to me I'd be happy to buy it! DS loves them too it seems.

And ignore the negative comments. Nothing wrong with buying and reusing perfectly functional toys. things like Playmobil are all plastic so must be easy to clean if they're a bit grubby. Same with books. All the ones I've found my 2 are in near enough perfect condition. Only ones I've bought new have been the dead cheap ones off Amazon/The works.

[Liz79]

I am. Also for other peoples DC. I have found puzzles & colouring.books & normal books that are in perfect.condition & my.DC have.never used. So I'm passing them on. Ds is.getting happyland.knights.castle which I found on the local Facebook selling page for £10. Dd is getting the set of.Beatrix potter stories on CD, from.Ebay. She is getting a CD player, that's new. I have also made jams, chutneys & bramble vodka & whiskey which will be xmas gifts.

[TerraNotSoFirma]

I have just bought four mint condition games from our local facebook page for £4 each.
They were on our list of games to buy for Christmas anyway (kerplunk, operation, junior monopoly and another one I can't remember)
We would have bought one of them this year for £20 new, so 4 for £18 has made me very happy.

See if you have a local selling facebook page too, I'm half thinking of setting up a page for 'second hand Christmas gifts'

[BeaWheesht]

Dd is getting a second hand dolls house, I often have given second hand stuff to ds in the past, why not?

[MERLYPUSS]

I get stuff from bootsales for the twins. Buckaroo, elepfun, pop up pirate (20p!!!), hungry hippos, junior scrabble all for about £1. There was a fella last year that sold brand new books that had been rejected from the publishers as the cover was wonky or some such. Got Julia Donaldson stuff, funny bones and cd books for 1-2 quid. Some put away for birthday pressies too.
Last year's games have been freecycled now. I figure I am hiring them for £1 and don't worry if the pieces get lost too much. If they were £15 I would be narked. But they keep asking to play bloody elefun!

[ScornedWoman]

Yep, my friend gave DS a preloved toy last year and he loved/loves it. I have already put a shout out for Playmobil on my local selling site. I can't decide between a castle/pirate ship; hopefully, I won't have to if I can get them cheaply this way. Also, used sets (Playmobil) tend to come with extra bits thrown in, so even more for your money.

[SmokedMackerel]

Hmm, local Facebook selling page. So Facebook is actually useful, who knew!

How would I find if I had a local page?

[noisytoys]

For the first two years of DDs life she got DD1s old (good condition) toys wrapped up as presents so I didn't even buy her second hand gifts. They had been in the loft a good while though. Both now get a mix of new and second hand.

[Isildur]

I'd love to, but I can't really find anything worth the effort.

Once you factor in courier fees, all of the big Playmobil sets I've seen on Ebay cost about the same as 'sale' prices in the toy stores, and there will be loads of sales between now and Christmas.

Lego too.

I will be buying them loads of second hand books though.

[DuelingFanjo]

I have bought some playmobil stuff from ebay for my DS - an aeroplane and a rescue helicopter with people. He will be three at Christmas. His birthday is a couple of days before and he's getting something new in a box on that day. I know he's going to absolutely love the playmobil stuff as he played with some at a friend's house and couldn't stop talking about it.

[BuggedByJake]

I've not thought about Christmas yet but I have done the same with playmobil. A couple of years ago I bought ds a few full sets then lots of bits n bobs, road signs, cones etc.
He loved it & didn't question why it never came in the packaging.
Such an odd thing for people to be negative about.

[FeetStreet]

Yes, all of my ds's main presents last year came in one bundle I bought on gumtree for £18. All perfect condition, would have cost £70ish new. He was thrilled with them and no questions about packaging (it's just an obstacle to playing with the stuff in his eyes anyway). I was quite chuffed to see lovely things wrapped under the tree which didn't break the bank. You've reminded me to start keeping an eye out for things, thanks!

[Liz79]

Tell me.about playmobil. I have nearly.6.yo.dd. & my ds is.3.5. Do I.need.it?

[FunnyRunner]

To clean Playmobile - chuck it in a pillow case or laundry bag and fling in washing machine. (Disclaimer: haven't tried this but saw it recommended)

[DuelingFanjo]

I doubt it is essential but DS loves the fact that people can sit in things. It's bigger and chunkier than lego and doesn't have bits fall off everywhere. It is expensive new though so look out for sets on ebay. I do searches for nearest first so that there's a chance the stuff can be picked up to avoid postage.

[Tommetipsy]

I bought an awesome wild west set for my dd's for xmas two years ago from ebay. It was a total bargin. The seller sent it wrapped so carefully and included a note saying his son's had years of fun with the sets and he hoped we'd enjoy them too.

Liz79. My DD's are 7 and 4 and I would say playmobil is the most played with of their toys. I reckon get one theme e.g wild west or romans and build up from there. Looks like lots of bargins on ebay to be had. Playmobil as mixes in with other toys e.g animals, lego etc.

Better then Syl - feckin - vanian families. Totally over priced, tiny tiny pieces that choke the hoover and they have staring eyes.

[cheekycherryza]

I have bought my daughter a brilliant condition secondhand cinderella castle and 6 princess barbie dolls on ebay and a horse and carriage at a car boot sale for £3. I don't give rats what people think of me. It was either that or give her practically nothing for Christmas as our budget is very small this year as we are saving to buy a house. I'm not going to spend £100s of our savings money to give my daughter everything brand new. She's 3 and going to be so excited to have these toys she won't care if they are new or not.

Soon she'll be 13 and I'll be spending big bucks on ipods and designed clothes so the way I figure it as long as she's happy now I don't care that the items are second hand.

[FunnyRunner]

If you live near Liverpool / Widnes there is an absolute bargain of a Happyland bundle on ebay - currently at £21 but it is awesome. It says free postage but it's actually collection only.

[Stillhopingstillhere]

I'd be happy to buy second hand but all our charity shops seem to be mainly clothes and the car boots seem to have baby stuff but nothing for older ones.

eBay I agree, once you've paid postage it is hardly worth it. Especially if there are a few pieces missing. So although I'm on the lookout I haven't as yet bought anything second hand for ds for christmas.

[Chocotrekkie]

Check out local Facebook "buy and sell kids stuff" pages. Much easier than eBay and you collect rather than pay postage. Have already bought a carrier bag full of sylvanian animals and furniture for a tenner and have just sold some kids clothes.

[TrinityRhino]

yes definitely
I have no choice this year but I do anyway

[Littlemousewithcloggson]

I try to buy most stuff new but at bargain prices ( - such as the squinkies set and zhu zhu set on the bargain thread, amazing value.) However I will happily buy 2nd hand too. Last year DD got the sylvanian regency hotel, fully furnished with 2 families, butler and Maid that I picked up for £25 as collection only on EBay. It was in perfect condition. Why pay over £200extra just for the boxes!

[foxy6]

I have brought toys off eBay and from charity shops for Christmas presents. I don't see a problem with it if the children are young they don't care where it came from just that Santa got it for them

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Definitely. Last year DD1 had a Santa sack full of princess dresses that came from the local FB selling group. Will be doing it even more so this year as we're up shit creek.

[Meglet]

I did for years. Last year DD had a second hand Barbie house, she was only 4 so none the wiser. Although they're both school age now so I've moved over to new presents.

Have you tried NCT nearly new sales? Most of the DC's presents used to come from there.